Vent problems

Vent problems: I have a chicken that has what looks to be a ruptured vent. It is swollen, bloody and seems to be stretched out.

The chicken is only about 9 months old. It does not (at this point) seem bothered by it. Why did this happen and how do I treat it?

AnswerHopefully this is not a prolapse, which is a very serious condition when a portion of the internal egg producing and laying path suffers some sort of trauma and is pushed with muscle contractions to the outside of the body.

Swelling, due to internal tearing, broken blood vessels, could cause what you have described.

It’s possible that an egg was broken inside her, due to being handled roughly by a human or other animal.

Pushing the rough edges out as she lays the egg can cause cuts as it passes. You didn’t say what size an area this involves, but by your input that: she doesn’t seem to be bothered by it, may mean it is not extremely serious.

Sometimes, just like in childbirth, or the birth of animals, there can be a tearing in the “birth canal” when a hen lays an egg.

If she has just started laying, possibly an egg was poorly lubricated, the passage too tight and the egg too large for her to easily pass it.

The effort of straining to pass the egg can push internal tissues out and ruptures.

I believe, what ever has caused this, that there is a high risk of infection, which may also explain the swelling.

The bloodiness that you see is very likely from some sort of rupture inside her vent.

Since chickens pass their waste and eggs through the vent, this area is exposed to bacteria that could irritate and cause infection.

With her vent area swollen it is possible that she cannot pass any eggs and this can cause a life threatening blockage for eggs and feces.

You need to make sure she is able to pass her droppings, that she is eating and drinking well, too.

I would suggest separating her from the rest of the flock. A bloody area like that can trigger other chickens to peck at it, if only out of curiosity, and she doesn’t need any more irritations.

I strongly believe she should be on some strong antibiotics, but a veterinarian would have to prescribe which one.

It maybe possible to give her some comfort with a pain relief triple antibiotic salve, but I wouldn’t rely on that alone. Worst case: this is life threatening.

Best case; it will clear up quickly and she will be fine. Somewhere in the middle: her life is in your hands and I believe she needs medical attention.

Comments for Vent problems

Triple antibiotic with pain relief?!? or without pain relief!?!by: Anonymous

You mentioned using triple antibiotic ointment with pain relief. I have been told by several people that I should not use the triple antibiotic with pain relief....and that I should only use the regular no pain relief triple antibiotic ointment.

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pain relief for prolapseby: Sara in Washington

Your comment "It maybe possible to give her some comfort with a pain relief triple antibiotic salve, but I wouldn’t rely on that alone. Worst case: this is life threatening."

You can not give a hen any pain ointment that has any of the pain relieving products ending in "caine" it will kill your chickens quickly, I know this by having treated a hen that died a Vet later advised me of the toxic "caine" products.

Preparation H, honey, sugar applied to prolapse and gently pressing the prolapse back in and holding it in place for a few seconds. You may need to repeat to have it remain inside the hen. You can use latex or other glove to do this. Keep her seperate to prevent her from being cannabilized, keep in quiet, dark area to break the egg laying cycle less than 12 hours of light. After you are able to keep the prolapse inside for an extended period of time return hen to flock. The flesh of the prolapse should be kept moist, ky jelly will help. Extended time the prolapse is out it can dry, and from being constricted by the vent from blood flow can kill the tissue. It is very important to manipulate the prolapse back inside. IF unable to do so take the bird to a VET for assistance.